A tsunami is headed for your community

If you see the water retreat from the shoreline, seek higher ground immediately, Hodges warns. Mother Nature is trying to warn you that a tsunami is coming.

"Get as high and as far away from the ocean as possible," he says

The recent tsunami that hit Japan is a reminder of how powerful and dangerous nature can be.

If your community is under a tsunami warning, quickly move to higher ground and stay there until you are certain that it is safe to return. Use a radio to monitor updates.

This may sound obvious, but not everyone follows common sense: Stay well away from the coastline. You may want to see a giant wave, but if you do are very likely to become one of its victims. Created by underwater disturbances such as earthquakes, tsunamis can reach speeds of hundreds of miles per hour and heights of more than 100 feet.